ORDINARY APPLAUSE: Thie Is Just Normal Hand Clapping, but After a Few Special Applauses
DISCOVER OUR FAMILY HERITAGETHEME RELATED
Discover Our Family Heritage
NOVEMBER 1999
DEN AND PACK ACTIVITIES
WHERE DID WE COME FROM?
Birth places: Have a large U.S. map (available at an automobile association or local stores) on the wall at the pack meeting. As people arrive, give each person a star sticker and ask them to mark the place they were born. Make a special place for those born in foreign countries.
Ancestors: Have a U.S. map and a world map ready and ask people as they come in to mark the places their ancestors come from. You will need more than one star for most people, for many Americans’ ancestors come from different cities or countries. You can expand this idea to include relatives and ask people to mark all the areas they have relatives living in as well. You’ll be amazed how diverse our past is.
PACK FAMILY HOBBY DISPLAY
Have a family hobby corner at the pack meeting. Ask each family to bring a sample of what they collect as a family or things that represent their hobby. Families who like baseball can bring baseball equipment, uniform, baseball cards, photos and maybe some trophies. Families who like movies can bring movie posters and movie paraphernalia including popcorn! Families who collect sea shells can bring some in a box. It doesn’t have to be a “formal” hobby--it’s something a family does together. How about a family who buys T-shirts wherever they go? Set a time during the meeting for families to go around and admire each other’s hobby. Family members can take turns staying at their “booth” to explain about their hobby.
FAMILY RESEMBLANCE
Have a display of boys’ pictures and pictures of their family members--parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins and siblings--when they were young, preferably at the boys’ age. Mix them up and display. Have people match them up. How about all baby pictures? Or match up between the boy’s current picture with his baby picture?
FAMILY TALENT SHOW
You’ll be surprised how many talented people you have in your pack. Families can put on skits or a magic show, play musical instruments, or sing songs. If people are shy, ask a few families to get together and sing a song or two. How about den families? Each den gets its families together to sing songs or play instruments. They can play “real” instruments, or kazoo or home made instruments (see Bear Elective 8). The more you do as families at the pack meeting, the stronger the pack will be.
FAMILY COAT OF ARMS
Each family can design a coat of arms that shows where they are from, family hobbies, or anything that best characterizes the family. Display at the pack meeting.
DEN GUEST SPEAKERS (Bear Achievement 8)
Grandparents: Boys can interview den grandparents about their childhood, town they grew up in, school they went to, games they played, songs they sang, their family, their siblings, their parents, etc. Was there anything their parents wouldn’t let them do which they wanted very much to do? Do grandparents have old toys or clothes? Can they bring some photos? Anything from the old country? Boys enjoy having their family member attend the den meeting as special guests. If they don’t have grandparents, do they have uncles or aunts? Have boys take turns bringing their special guests. You can have two or three guests at a time for the boys to interview. This way, grandparents get to meet with each other too--the more that den families get to know each other, the higher their involvement in Cub Scouting would be, thus the easier for the den leaders.
DEN AND PACK ACTIVITIES (continued)
Old timers in town: Does anyone in the den know somebody who has lived in the area for a long time and could tell about the area before all these industries and housing came in? (We had once a guest in our Bear den whose family had owned an orchard in the valley for decades. He brought some photos and old orchard packing labels. He told the boys what used to be where their houses stand now. His stories were so fascinating that seven active boys sat and listened and talked to him for most of the meeting, while we had originally planned the talk to last for only about 15 minutes.)
DEN TIME CAPSULE
Make a den time capsule. Include photos of den members and families, pack newsletter, lists of favorite things and activities, souvenirs from field trips, samples of den crafts, etc. Put it away in a safe place. Open at the final den meeting of the Cub Scouting year or just before graduation.
DEN FAMILY OUTING
Go on a hike or go on a field trip and include all the family members. The trip should not be too elaborate or too long.
BSA FAMILY PROGRAM
Cub Scouting is a family-based program. The family’s involvement is a key ingredient to a successful program. The purposes of Cub Scouting’s BSA Family Program are to strengthen families and encourage family involvement in Scouting. It is designed to help all families--whether traditional two parent, single parent, or other nontraditional family--and all family members may participate. Family can earn the BSA Family Award using the BSA Family Book as a guideline. Pack leaders are encouraged to become familiar with the BSA Family program and promote it within the pack. The BSA Family Book is available at the Scout Shop. Activities suggested in the book include family meetings, outings, and traditions. Service to others, religious service and participation in Scouting as a family are all part of the BSA Family Award. (For more information, please refer to Cub Scout Leader Book, pp. 15-2 to 15-5.)
BOYS’ LIFE AND SCOUTING MAGAZINES
Share your Scouting magazines with your family and other families in the pack. There is a lot in it that would interest the entire family. Don’t forget the “Family Fun Page” at the end of the magazine. Ask your son to share his Boys’ Life with you. You will enjoy reading every issue.
SAFETY PROGRAMS
Lucile Salter Packard Children’s Hospital provides an Educational Outreach Safety Program. Volunteers can visit your pack to talk about home safety, home alone issues and street safety. For more information or to arrange a visit call Kelly Okura Conte, Community Outreach Liaison, at (650) 497-8164. Arrangements for a presentation at the pack need to be made at least one month in advance.
S.C.C.C.November - 1Pow Wow 1999
DISCOVER OUR FAMILY HERITAGEPREOPENING
FAMILY FIND
Here are various terms for family members. Using the size of each word as a clue, find where each word goes. Words are grouped according to the number of letters.
SONAUNT
CHILDBROTHER
NIECE
UNCLEDAUGHTER
COUSINGRANDFATHER
FATHERGRANDMOTHER
MOTHER
NEPHEW
PARENT
SISTER
THE NAME GAME
Match the first name in column A with the last name in column B to come up with a word, action, or thing.
S.C.C.C.November - 1Pow Wow 1999
DISCOVER OUR FAMILY HERITAGEPREOPENING
Column A
1. Phil
2. Sue
3. Mark
4. Jen
5. Mary
6. Jeanie
7. Jim
8. Sam
9. Eileen
10. Tom
Column B
a. Atoe
b. Orus
c. Pill
d. Harmonic
e. Nastics
f. Pernatural
g. Back
h. Onette
i. Ette
j. Us
S.C.C.C.November - 1Pow Wow 1999
DISCOVER OUR FAMILY HERITAGEPREOPENING
Answers: 1-d; 2-f; 3-i; 4-b; 5-h; 6-j; 7-e; 8-c; 9-g; 10-a
“IN THE FAMILY” WORD SEARCH
S.C.C.C.November - 1Pow Wow 1999
DISCOVER OUR FAMILY HERITAGEPREOPENING
LTSLCONCERNEBCE
UARKATSURTENJOY
FDRALUMFRROISML
YMIGIOGOAIBLSMU
OYYVUTFHTDPMEUU
JLTMOMSCTRPRNNL
NOITOVEDEEWUIEO
UYDCQFTNAARTZDV
FAEVFDYCTMYHOPE
RLRASSENESOLCHD
ETEPDFCTOPUOTNE
EYHIUHAMWMSMRSR
NIKLELKAKUREMOH
UEPLEASEPAPARZR
RIPRHSWTWWRYHHN
AFFECTION
ARGUMENTS
CLOSENESS
COMFORT
COMMUNE
CONCERN
COZINESS
DEVOTION
DREAMS
ENJOY
FOLKS
FUN
HARMONY
HELP
HEREDITY
HOME
HOPE
JOYFUL
KIDS
KIN
LAUGHTER
LINE
LOVE
LOYALTY
MOM
PAPA
PEACEFUL
PLEASE
PRIDE
RELATE
RESPECT
SHARE
TEAM
TRAITS
TRUST
UNITY
WARMTH
YOU
S.C.C.C.November - 1Pow Wow 1999
DISCOVER OUR FAMILY HERITAGEPREOPENING
SMILES
Once upon a time, two brothers decided to leave home and move to the city. Just outside the city, one of the brothers met an old man.
“How are the people here?” he asked.
“How were the people in your town?” the old man replied.
“Oh, all of them were cross. They grumbled all the time,” the brother answered, “That’s why I decided to leave.”
“Well, you’ll find the people here are exactly the same,” the old man said and walked down the street.
A little while later, the second brother met the old man and asked him, “How are the people in this city?”
“How were the people in your town?” the old man answered.
“They were very nice – always cheerful and helpful. I hated to leave,” the brother replied.
“Well, you’ll find the people here are exactly the same, “ the wise old man smiled, and the two walked on down the street together.
S.C.C.C.November - 1Pow Wow 1999
DISCOVER OUR FAMILY HERITAGECEREMONIES
A FAMILY IS
A FAMILY IS people giving and receiving love.
A FAMILY IS people getting angry, but still loving each other.
A FAMILY IS people loving the differences about each other.
A FAMILY IS people talking and listening to each other.
A FAMILY IS people caring about what happens to each other, and letting it show.
A FAMILY IS people laughing and crying without feeling ashamed of it.
A FAMILY IS people sharing with each other.
A FAMILY IS people reaching out and leaning on each other.
A FAMILY IS people having fun together.
A FAMILY IS people giving strength to each other and feeling loyal to each other.
A FAMILY IS people LOVING one another, through good times and bad.
FAMILY
Arrangement: Six Cub Scouts each read a line. The last Scout points to the audience when he says “you and you and you.”
Fis for Fun and Fellowship.
Ais for Affection and Acceptance.
Mis for Merriment and Magic.
Iis for Ideals and Imagination.
Lis for Love and Laughter.
Yis for You and You and You!
ALL:Welcome to the Pack Family Gathering!
FAMILY THANKSGIVING
Arrangement: Cub Scouts carry cards spelling THANKSGIVING.
Den Leader: We all have a lot to thank our families for. Boys in Den ___ have these things to say to their families.
Thanks for yourTrust
Thanks for yourHelp
Thanks for yourAffection
Thanks for the Nourishment
Thanks for yourKindness
Thanks for yourSharing
Thanks for yourGuidance
Thanks for your Instruction
Thanks for yourValues
Thanks for yourIdeals
Thanks for the Nurturing
Thanks for your Gift of Love
ALL: That’s THANKSGIVING for our families!
FAMILY FUN
C.S. #1:We may not be able to sing and dance,
To ride a horse, or throw a lance,
But there are some things we do real good,
And without each other there’s no way we could.
C.S.#2:Dad coaches soccer and I play on the team.
Mom and my sister root and scream.
When I block a goal or make a pass,
My whole family gets in the act.
C.S. #3:On Saturday mornings we like to bake bread.
It’s a wonderful way to get out of bed.
Mom adds the yeast, Dad kneads the dough,
I get the oven ready, you know.
C.S. #4:My dad and I like to build things,
You wouldn’t believe the fun this brings!
We’ve made dog houses, book cases and closet shelves,
And talk a lot while we’re busy as elves.
C.S. #5:We like to ride bikes, my family and me;
The fresh air is great out in the country.
Up and down hills, east and then west,
We see a lot, but the ride home is best.
C.S. #6:I bet there’s lots of things you can do.
Think about it, then try a few.
Get Mom and Dad in there to help.
You’ll find family fun is really swell.
CUB SCOUT THANKSGIVING
TStands for the Time our den leaders gladly give;
HStands for the Help from our parents.
AStands for America, where we are all free to live;
NStands for Nature, where we always learn something new;
KStands for Kindness of Cub Scout friends;
SStands for Songs in which we raise our voices;
GStands for Games we play--Sportsmanship never ends;
IStands for Independence we learn to make our own choices;
VStands for Variety in our lives which Cub Scouting gives anew;
IStands for Individuality that each boy in Cub Scouting brings;
NStands for New skills we gladly learn to do;
GStands for God whom we thank for all these blessings.
THE FAMILY TREE OPENING OR CLOSING
Arrangement: Have Cubmaster read the whole ceremony, or have a different reader (readers) for the poem. You need to be able to see a beautiful tree from the meeting hall or have a poster of a beautiful tree.
Cub Scouts, see that tree over there? Beautiful, isn’t it? And you can tell that it’s strong, too. You can compare that tree to a strong family. The roots are faith in God. The trunk is the parents. And the branches are the children.
A poet named Helen Crawford made a comparison in a poem I’d like to share with you. It’s called “The Family Tree.”
There’s one thing in God’s nature world
That means a lot to me.
It symbolizes much of life;
It is a lovely tree.
With roots so deep in God’s rich earth,
It’s not disturbed by weather.
Like families with faith in God,
Who live in peace together.
Its trunk, the body strong and firm,
Like parents everywhere,
To guide, control, direct, sustain
The offspring which they bear.
The branches which like children spread,
In every known direction.
Until the fruitage of their growth
Has reached its full perfection.
And so a tree appears to me
The gem of God’s creation,
As it portrays our families,
Which constitute a nation.
Each one of you can do your part to make your family tree stronger and more beautiful. How? By loving all your family members. By obeying your parents, and by doing your fair share of the family work. Now let us think of our parents as Akelas as we repeat the Law of the Pack.
FAMILY CLOSING
Equipment: 15 to 20 child’s building blocks.
Cubmaster: (Begins to build a pyramid with the blocks)
No, Cub Scouts, I’m not really losing my mind. I’m building something that has a lesson for all of us.
There! Let’s say this pyramid stands for our country. If this is the whole country, where is your family? That’s right, you and your family are one of the bottom blocks. Why? Because families are the foundation of our whole country. Without families, our society would collapse. And that’s why families are so important to the country.
Of course, your own family is very important to you, too. Your family gives you food, shelter, clothing, the chance for an education--and most important, your family gives you love.
In return, you give your family some things. You give your parents respect and obedience--at least I hope you do. You help around the house. And you return their love for you.
Now, on the count of three, I want to hear every Cub Scout here who loves his family and respects his parents to shout “I’ll do my best.” Ready, one, two, three, “I’LL DO MY BEST!”
THANKS CLOSING
TTonight we’ve tried to bring you
HHappiness by sharing our accomplishments
AAnd once again, it’s time for our meeting to end.
NNow we want to remind you to be thankful
KKeeping in mind all our blessings so dear
SSo let us give thanks.
Let’s all bow our heads in silent prayer for the blessings given to us today,
As we pause to give thanks, each in his own way.
(After a silent prayer, one of the Cub Scout says: “Good night and Thanks.”)
DISCOVER SCOUTING’S HERITAGE AT THE DISTRICT ROUNDTABLE.
ROPE CLOSING
Distribute a 3-ft. piece of rope to everyone. Have them form a large circle and tie their ropes with a square knot to the person's on their left. When all the ropes are tied, hold onto the rope with the left hand, raise the right arm in the Cub Scout salute. “This strong circle represents the bond of friendship we have in Scouting. Please join me in the Cub Scout promise.
“A FAMILY IS...” CLOSING POEM
The family is like a garden with joy for all to share.